Wizards turn the tables on 76ers

March 31, 2012|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

NBA Team Report - Washington Wizards - GETTING INSIDE

The Wizards had been flat-out embarrassed by the 76ers in three meetings this season, all double-digit losses. But on Friday night at Verizon Center, Washington finally got a chance at a little redemption, as it defeated Philadelphia 97-76.

However, as 76ers coach Doug Collins was quick to point out prior to the game, this was a different Wizards team with Nene in the post, as opposed to JaVale McGee.

With Nene, the Wizards are a stronger, smarter and better team defensively, and they are starting to show those improvements, even though they had lost five in row until beating the 76ers, mostly by displaying a failure to close out games in the fourth quarter. They had no such problem Friday.

"This was a game we needed to have in order to break the ice," Wizards coach Randy Wittman said. "We have talked the last few weeks about holding on and keeping up our defense. That was spectacular by our guys tonight."

The Wizards outshot the ice-cold 76ers 48.3 percent to 36.6 percent, and they outrebounded them 52-38.

"We were able to turn the corner defensively, that is why we won this game," Wittman said.

The Wizards next face the Raptors on Sunday in Toronto.

-----------------------------------------------

NBA Team Report - Washington Wizards - NOTES, QUOTES

--Cartier Martin led all scorers with 20 points in Friday's win over Philadelphia. Martin joined the Wizards earlier this week after being called up from the Development League and signing a 10-day contract.

"Coach Witt (Randy Wittman) is a great coach. He has confidence in me. He gave me valuable minutes early on and is giving me a great opportunity that I have to take advantage of," Martin said.

--G Jordan Crawford had scored 20 or more points in seven consecutive games, but the streak ended Friday when he scored 17 points against the 76ers.

"We have played very well in the first half in our previous games, but we have struggled to close it out," Crawford said. "This was a big win for us. It was a team effort, and we played hard until the final whistle."

--PG John Wall scored nine points on 4-of-12 shooting from the floor, and he added six rebounds and six assists. Wall gave credit for the win to Cartier Martin and the rest of the bench players.

"Tonight our bench played great. They did a great job, especially Kevin (Seraphin), Cartier (Martin), Mase (Roger Mason), Shelvin (Mack), Jan (Vesely). That's what really helped us. Sometimes when you get leads, either the first group or second group lose it, but today both teams kept it up," Wall said.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "As I told the guys before they went out tonight, 'Let's just make simple plays.' If you think there's a chance that it might be risky, don't do it. Keep it basic, especially in the last five minutes." -- Wizards coach Randy Wittman, whose plan worked in a 97-76 rout of the 76ers.

-----------------------------------------------

NBA Team Report - Washington Wizards - ROSTER REPORT

PLAYER NOTES:

--C Nene and PF Trevor Booker both left Friday's game with the same injury, a pulled left fascia, a ligament in the left foot. Booker left the game in the first quarter, Nene in the fourth quarter. Nene finished with 16 points and eight rebounds. Booker had two points and one rebound.

--F Kevin Seraphin has continued to play better since the arrival of Nene. Seraphin scored 14 points and added seven rebounds off the bench Friday.

--F Jan Vesely had a career-high 11 rebounds in the win over Philadelphia. He added six points.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--C Nene (pulled ligament in left foot) left the March 30 game. The extent of his injury wasn't immediately known.

--PF Trevor Booker (pulled ligament in left foot) left the March 30 game. The extent of his injury wasn't immediately known.

--F Rashard Lewis (bone bruise on left knee) is inactive.

--F Andray Blatche (calf) is inactive in order to work on improving his conditioning after missing five weeks with the injury.